Chapter 58

On Sunday, Du Xiaohu drove Lu Zhen to the county union workers' club. The "Dream of the Red Mansion" production team had borrowed the small square and the auditorium here to warm up before filming. The actors were changing into their costumes, forming groups of three or five, rehearsing lines, and performing skits as part of their preparations.

Outside the workers' club compound, a cordon had been set up. Security personnel with red armbands were maintaining order, dissuading the curious crowd from getting too close.

In reality, many locals from Guangning had already sneaked into the compound. Most were club employees, their families, and some people with notes from county leaders, bringing their families to watch the spectacle.

The production team and actors did not mind the onlookers, as long as they did not interfere with the rehearsals. Some actors, with a strong desire to perform, actually did better with an audience, finding it easier to get into character.

Du Xiaohu parked the car outside on the open ground and followed Lu Zhen into the compound. At the gate, several police officers from the public security bureau were on duty. Seeing Lu Zhen and Du Xiaohu approaching from a distance, they quickly lifted the green police tape to let them in, then lowered it again.

Lu Zhen waited while Du Xiaohu searched for a few rounds and finally found Tong Susu under a tree, where the largest crowd was gathered. This was because the actors rehearsing were all beautiful women, the Twelve Beauties of the Red Mansion.

Du Xiaohu was quite aggressive, pushing the people on either side to make way for Lu Zhen. Lu Zhen couldn't help but scratch his head, wondering why Hu Zi, Tan Qiang, and Hou Jianjun all seemed like bandits in Guangning.

But when Lu Zhen squeezed in, he couldn't help but praise the beauty of these classical beauties up close. They were far more beautiful and impressive than on television. Each beauty was delicately made up, with graceful features and elegant, refined demeanor.

The phrase "the eyes in the lamplight, the feet under the quilt, the voice in the tent" could only be truly appreciated when facing these charming and graceful ancient beauties.

Lu Zhen immediately recognized Tong Susu, with her splendid silk robe and beautiful appearance, truly embodying the description "smooth and lustrous skin, graceful and refined manners. Lips red without lipstick, eyebrows green without makeup, face like a peach blossom, eyes like water almonds." Who else could she be but the youthful and beautiful Xue Baochai from the Red Mansion?

The "Lin Daiyu" playing opposite her, though delicate and pitiable, was slightly less beautiful in comparison.

Lu Zhen crossed his arms and smiled, watching as Tong Susu seemed to belong on stage. From a distance, it felt as if one had truly entered the world of the Red Mansion, observing the vivid and colorful lives of these ancient women, each vying for attention.

...

By noon, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the production team began distributing boxed meals to the actors. The actors gathered in groups of three or five, some sitting on the ground to eat.

Life in the production team was tough, but the production was extremely meticulous and rigorous, far different from the current trend of using hype to attract attention.

Tong Susu seemed to still be immersed in her role, muttering something as she walked. She passed by Lu Zhen, who was greeting her, and walked toward a middle-aged woman, who pulled her hand and sat down on the steps of a flower bed.

It was winter, and the flower bed was bare, with a few evergreen cypress trees behind it.

The middle-aged woman, probably in her forties, was plump and dignified. Though dressed simply, she exuded an air of grace and sophistication.

Lu Zhen scratched his head, remembering that the actresses in the Red Mansion often remained immersed in their roles after filming, with Lin Daiyu being the most extreme, even becoming a nun later on.

Tong Susu, don't be so obsessed.

Seeing that Tong Susu seemed to ignore Lu Zhen, Du Xiaohu was not pleased and shouted loudly, "Tong Susu! What's wrong with you! Are you so caught up in your role that you don't recognize people anymore?!"

Lu Zhen turned and glared at him, and Du Xiaohu fell silent. His shout drew many gazes, and the crew members looked at them disapprovingly.

Lu Zhen also became a target, surrounded by angry stares. He coughed, realizing that he could never be a good person in this life. He was seen as a bandit and a corrupt official, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Tong Susu, however, ran over happily, exclaiming, "Sis, you're here?"

Lu Zhen, despite his thick skin, almost blushed under the scrutiny of the crowd. A staff member nearby sprayed rice all over, coughing violently, almost choking. He had just noticed the two young men who had barged in, thinking Lu Zhen looked like a local thug, but hearing him called "sis" by a delicate girl was too much.

Lu Zhen waved his hand as if shooing away flies, whispering, "Don't shout!"

Tong Susu, however, laughed mischievously, "What's there to be afraid of?" She pulled Lu Zhen's arm and led him to the middle-aged woman, saying, "Mom, this is Zhenzi, the one I often talk about, my sis! Zhenzi, this is my mom."

The middle-aged woman glared at Tong Susu, "You're getting more and more wild, don't you care what people think?" Then she smiled at Lu Zhen, "Zhenzi, right? My daughter has a troublesome personality, don't take it to heart. I've heard you've helped her a lot." She looked at Lu Zhen carefully. It was easy to add flowers to a brocade, but hard to give coal in the snow. She had heard Tong Susu cry about how, during her activities in the city, some of her husband's old friends and relatives had shamelessly made unreasonable demands. Lu Zhen, who was just someone Tong Susu knew from childhood, not even a friend, had gone out of his way to help her. Such a man was rare.

Although she had seen Du Xiaohu's aggressive demeanor, she felt that even a street thug had a better character than those hypocritical, self-righteous people.

Tong Susu's mother had met Lu Zhen when he was a child and had a vague memory of him. She knew he was a mischievous child, so it was natural for her to think of him as a street thug.

"Auntie, hello," Lu Zhen greeted Tong Susu's mother, the awkwardness from being called "sis" gradually fading.

"Zhenzi, come sit," Tong Susu's mother pulled Lu Zhen to sit beside her, looking at him kindly and smiling, "Still fighting every day?"

Tong Susu's mother was a very understanding woman. Being a street thug was not a good profession, but not mentioning it would seem disrespectful. So she brought it up as a joke, easing the tension.

Lu Zhen, not being a thug, didn't understand her good intentions, thinking she was talking about the police station. He smiled, "Not really, I haven't been dealing with people much lately." His position had changed, and he rarely went to the interrogation room anymore.

Tong Susu's mother nodded, "Susu has been talking about your kindness. She's not the type to ignore you just because she's an actress." She glanced at Du Xiaohu.

Lu Zhen smiled, "Auntie, I know Susu's personality. Don't listen to Hu Zi's nonsense." Du Xiaohu, however, was already laughing, "Bro, I'll go get some food."

Watching Du Xiaohu leave, Tong Susu's mother felt a bit helpless. This kid was really quite thick-skinned.

Tong Susu placed a piece of white paper on the steps to avoid dirtying her costume and sat on the other side of her mother. Her beauty was truly a feast for the eyes.

"Zhenzi, have you been up to any mischief lately?" Tong Susu asked, her eyes twinkling. The sound of her jewelry jingling added to the sense of time and place.

Lu Zhen shook his head helplessly. He had actually missed Tong Susu before seeing her, but now he just wanted to find a way to discipline her. This landlady, how could she be getting more and more mischievous? But with her mother right there, he couldn't say much.

Tong Susu continued, "My mom can't get used to Beijing and insisted on moving back to Wushan. She insisted on coming with me to the filming, but she doesn't want to stay in a hotel. I just rented a place for her in the county yesterday, but I heard that area is full of outsiders doing business, and it's quite chaotic. I'm a bit worried."

Lu Zhen nodded, "I'll take care of Auntie. You focus on your acting."

Tong Susu stopped joking and looked at Lu Zhen seriously, "Zhenzi, thank you so much. I'll never forget your kindness."

Tong Susu's mother felt a bit dizzy. What was this child saying? She was right there! But she knew her daughter had gone through a lot and had changed, sometimes being quite cynical. She sighed softly.

Lu Zhen laughed, "We're not sisters, right?" He wasn't used to people expressing gratitude so formally, so he made a joke.

Tong Susu giggled, "Really? You want to be sisters with me? Then you're the younger sister, and I'm the older sister?"

Lu Zhen was speechless, coughed, and didn't respond.

Tong Susu turned to her mother, "Mom, Zhenzi is the deputy political commissar of the county bureau. With him taking care of you, I'm at ease."

Tong Susu's mother was surprised, "Ah, so that's why you have this thug-like aura? You're in law enforcement?"

Lu Zhen smiled, "I'm the chief now."

Tong Susu pouted, "What's the difference? Deputy political commissar, deputy chief, they're the same level. Zhenzi, are you obsessed with power?"

Lu Zhen coughed, "I'm the chief."

Tong Susu gasped, "You got promoted again?"

Tong Susu's mother was even more surprised, looking at Lu Zhen up and down. This kid was only a few years older than Susu. Chief of the police? Her father had never achieved that.

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(End of the chapter)